What are the benefits of yoga?

Yoga has many physical benefits: It creates a flexible, toned and strong body, and it improves breathing, energy and metabolism. Yoga improves circulatory and cardiac health. It improves fitness levels, relieves pain, and improves posture.

Yoga also provides mental benefits: It makes you happier, more balanced, and emotionally calmer. It helps you relax so you can handle stress better. Yoga encourages self-confidence and helps you to focus your energy.

The spiritual benefits of yoga are also key: Yoga teaches you to be aware—aware of what is going on inside and outside of you. Yoga teaches you to be present in your surroundings and open to what is all around!

You will feel some benefits immediately, such as physically feeling tension release, the body opening and muscles strengthening. This is the "feel good" feeling that keeps people hooked on yoga. Other benefits include better sleep, more mindfulness and awareness, and greater connections with yourself and others. These might take more time to manifest and are personal and depend on how much you practice.